This event, The Power of One, the Spirit of Youth, will demonstrate how people of all ages—especially youth—can make a difference in today’s world. Jackson will discuss how individuals can have an impact on important issues, such as global warming and conservation. He will speak about his own successful fight to save British Columbia’s endangered white Kermode, or Spirit Bear. Jackson has become a celebrity himself, as he was the subject of a recent made-for-TV movie, as well as a soon-to-be released Hollywood animated film.

Event details
The Power of One, the Spirit of Youth
Date and time: Thursday, April 24, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Media Q & A: 11:30 a.m., in the Library
Place: Centennial Secondary School, 160 Palmer Rd, Belleville

This celebration will also highlight program results for Better Schools® and the environmental achievements of students involved in EarthCARE™, An Environmental Education Partnership (EC). EC is the occupant-behaviour, activity-based component of the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board’s school-renewal and energy-conservation program, Better Schools, with partner Ameresco Canada.

To date, HPEDSB has spent $42 million to upgrade facilities and conserve energy through the BSP. Currently 95% of the school improvements and upgrades have been completed, with the remainder scheduled for later in 2008. The district has saved over $1.3 million plus additional savings on utility costs through EarthCARE and reduced greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions by 8,050 tonnes, or 35%.

In 2005 the Board adopted EarthCARE, encouraging students, teachers and staff to help conserve precious resources. EC has helped HPEDSB save an additional 10% on utility costs through responsible environmental stewardship. The program has since evolved, with participants now setting their sights on involving the community to help keep the outdoor environment clean. Over the past year, EC teams have focused their efforts on a variety of community-based conservation initiatives, a few of which include the following:
• Park Dale School’s involvement with the City of Belleville and the Porchlight Project
• Kente Public School’s Adopt an Owl project
• Moira Secondary School’s Moira River Clean-up
• Hermon Public School’s Grade 5/6 poster contest

Other speakers of note include Mary Hall, Vice-Chair of the Board, who will make the connection between EarthCARE and the Better Schools renewal improvements, their effect on teaching and learning effectiveness, and the conservation efforts of students, staff and community partners. Mario Iusi, President of Ameresco Canada, will acknowledge the Board’s long-term commitment to conservation, quality classrooms and the partnership as it approaches a decade of fostering strong relationships, beginning with Better Schools in 1999, and EarthCARE in 2005.

Guest speakers
• 3 student emcees: Kale Brown, Darcy Smith, Kaiti O’Shaugnessey, Centennial Secondary School
• Mary Hall, Vice-Chair of the Board
• Mario Iusi, President, Ameresco Canada
• School EarthCARE teams/students sharing success stories

Keynote speaker

Simon Jackson, Founder of the Spirit Bear Coalition

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For more information about this event, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, HPEDSB at 1-800-267-4350, ext. 2354 or at kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca.

For more event details and information about EarthCARE, please contact:
Rose-Marie Batley, Executive Director, EarthCARE at (613) 868-0721 or at rmb@earthcarecanada.com or visit www.earthcarecanada.com

For more information about Better Schools, please contact:
Tim Cresswell, V.P., Ameresco Canada Inc. at 1-888-483-7267, or at tcresswell@ameresco.com

R - Better Schools is a registered trademark and property of Ameresco Canada Inc.
TM – EarthCARE, An Environmental Education Partnership is a registered trademark and property of Ameresco Canada Inc.